Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has sent a transfer ultimatum to superstar striker Kylian Mbappe – while the club move to re-sign Xavi Simons from PSV Eindhoven.
Mbappe will not sign the one-year contract extension in his PSG contract meaning that his deal will expire in 12 months. Mirror Football understands that the French club’s priority is to ensure he does not leave without a transfer fee, meaning they are prepared to cash in on the superstar this summer.
The French superstar has confirmed that he intends to remain at the Ligue 1 champions beyond this summer but it is understood that PSG will push for his exit as they are aware that the alternative is missing out on a landmark transfer fee entirely.
However, relations between the club and Real Madrid remain strained. That relationship deteriorated during the previous saga over Mbappe’s future, when several – notably public – Madrid record transfer bids were rejected by the French club. Los Blancos were certain they would see Mbappe join as a free agent in 2022, but he renewed his contract in Paris.
The Spanish giants are focused on signing strikers after Karim Benzema confirmed his exit last month while Eden Hazard, Asensio and Mariano Diaz – the latter of whom was the only recognised central striker in Madrid’s senior squad – are all departing as free agents this summer. New signing Joselu is the only recognised senior central striker in their ranks.
"Our position is very clear," said PSG supremo Al-Khelaifi on Wednesday when asked about Mbappe during the unveiling of new boss Luis Enrique. "If Kylian Mbappe wants to stay - we want him to stay - he needs to sign a new contract. We cannot let the best player in the world right now leave for free. That is impossible."
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Al-Khelaifi added: "This is a French club and, as he has said, he is not planning to leave for free. If somebody has changed his mind, it is not our fault.
"We had an agreement with Mbappe as he confirmed, verbal agreement. That's the reason why I'm shocked. In football, you never see your best player leaving the club for free. It never happens".
The PSG president then confirmed an ultimatum for Mbappe’s ultimatum: either sign a new deal or they would attempt to sell him. "He has to decide next week or in two weeks. No more than this. If he does not want to sign a new contract, the door is open. No one is bigger than the club, no player, not even me. It's very clear."
Meanwhile, PSG have taken up their option to activate a €6million clause to re-sign Simons from PSV. This clause is only active in July, but it is unclear if the player wants to return to the French capital.
It has been reported that the Dutch international will be offered to Arsenal this summer while Manchester United are among the clubs to have monitored his availability. PSG have taken up their option to activate a €6million clause to re-sign Simons which is only active in July, but it is unclear if the player wants to return to the French capital.
There are no shortage of admirers for Simons, with Barca among those who had been weighing up a potential move for the player. However, the Catalan club’s precarious financial situation has made any return unlikely.
Lionel Messi played alongside Simons at Paris Saint-Germain for the 2021/22 campaign before the Dutchman left the club to join PSV Eindhoven last summer. The 20-year-old impressed in the 2022/23 campaign as he has bagged 19 goals and provided nine assists for the Dutch club.
The 20-year-old can play as a midfielder or a wide forward and already has five caps for the Netherlands. He impressed for PSV in their Europa League group stage matches against Arsenal last season, with the Dutch side winning 2-0 in Eindhoven back in October.
Catalan media outlet El Nacional reported that during a trip to Barcelona a year ago, Messi met up with Xavi to discuss many issues. One of the topics that came up was that of Xavi Simons – who graduated through the Catalan club’s La Masia youth system.
That was when the then-teenager was a teammate of Messi at the Parc des Princes, where he moved from Barcelona in 2021. He was largely a bit-part player in the French capital but did establish himself at Under-21 level for the Netherlands.
The son of Dutch former footballer Regillio Simons then left PSG that summer when his contract expired and a return to the Camp Nou had been suggested. However, he ended up joining PSV in the Eredivisie for first-team opportunities.
